What Keeps Me Going
As I enter the year 2023, I am marking my 35th year of full-time ministry. After finishing seminary, I was invited to join the staff of Allison Park Church. For the first three years, I was the Pastoral Assistant, and then after my pastor transitioned to a church in California, I was elected to be the Lead Pastor.
In an era where so many pastors are considering the choice to “leave the ministry,” I have been meditating on what keeps me going. (An alternate title for this post could be “Keys to Longevity in Ministry.”)
Here's what I have discerned that keeps me going personally:
#1 - WHEN I STARTED IN MINISTRY, I BURNED THE PLOW
The phrase, “burn the plow,” is taken from the story in 1 Kings 19, when Elijah places his mantle on Elisha, and calls him into ministry. When that happens, Elisha burns the plow he was using and sacrifices his oxen. The decision that Elisha makes is to answer the call with abandon. He eliminated any fall back plan. There was no going back to his daddy's farm, to make a living in an agriculture business. It was an all-in approach to the purpose of God.
Now, I know that God has times and seasons for us. There are clearly moments when God calls someone out of ministry and into the marketplace. So a decision like that is totally legitimate at times. But there are also moments when people quit ministry for reasons that are not based on God's direction and leading. Sometimes these shifts are made out of hurt, financial struggle, boredom, or a desire to escape the pressure of leadership.
For me, I never formed a back-up plan. This decision anchored me when the seas of ministry became choppy and rough.
#2 - BEFORE I PREACH TO ANYONE ELSE, I SPEAK IN FAITH TO MYSELF
Early in my journey in ministry, I developed the habit of journaling. Each day, I would take a Scripture verse and milk the meaning out of it. As I studied God's word, and wrote in my journal, I learned to preach to myself. Each page represented application of Biblical promises and revelation from the Holy Spirit into my personal pain and situations.
Then, in prayer, I learned to declare the “now” words from God that were breathed to me during my study. Many times, I would enter a devotional moment ready to quit, and emerge from my time with God ready to take on the world.
#3 - WHEN I HAVE A BAD DAY, I JUST KEEP GOING
One of the things I have learned is that it is possible to survive a bad sermon, a downturn in finances, a dip in attendance, and a failure in strategy. It feels so deflating when things don't go well. But one bad week, month, or year is not enough to stop the plan and purpose of God.
Ministry is not so fragile as to fall apart forever just because you show your human weakness.
Remember that His grace is made perfect in your weakness (2 Corinthians 12). Keep walking forward, because this grace is more than enough.
#4 - WHEN OTHERS AREN'T HAPPY, I FIND STRENGTH IN THE PLEASURE OF GOD
There's a personal mission statement that helps me stay focused when I face criticism or failure: My mission in life is to please God, and to care about and set in motion the people that he has placed in my path.
If God is happy with me, everything else will work itself out. If He is pleased, I can choose to enjoy His pleasure.
#5 - BEFORE I STARTED MINISTRY, I FOUND MY BEST FRIEND
One of the reasons I have been able to stay in the game for thirty-five years is that I was fortunate enough to choose the right life partner. Melodie has been my constant companion, co-laborer in all we are called to do, my cheering section, my encourager, and my best friend.
If at some point I needed to leave the ministry to save or rebuild my marriage, I would gladly do so. My first priority in life has always been her. Ministry is always second to marriage. But when a marriage is strong, it makes longevity in ministry even more possible.
#6 - BECAUSE THERE IS ALWAYS TEMPTATIONS, I HAVE BUILT LAYERS OF ACCOUNTABILITY IN MY LIFE
Everybody needs to be submitted to somebody. Healthy submission to overseers and to a trustee board, in addition to mutual submission to my wife has been a source of protection against ministry ending practices. Staying faithful to my wife and submitted to those around me has kept me from doing things that are abusive, self-destructive, and damaging.
#7 - WHEN OTHERS HURT ME, I CHOOSE TO FORGIVE AND BLESS
Finally, there are moments in ministry when I have been hurt, insulted, betrayed, and attacked. There is no way to last for very long if you let your pain become poisonous to your soul through bitterness. The choice to forgive keeps me free. The choice to bless keeps me positioned to be eligible for God's exceptional and ongoing favor in my life.